Hello to all our readers out there!

The Lent term, our second term here in Lancaster, started just a couple of weeks ago. For this term, every student could choose four modules out of 13 very interesting courses according to individual interests. I decided to concentrate on Finance modules and took Advanced Corporate Finance, Advanced Investment Management, Financial Statement Analysis and Behavioural Finance.

In Advanced Corporate Finance we just submitted our first Coursework. This work required us to create an in-depth analysis of the financial structure of one of the largest firms in the UK. I really enjoy to work with international peers on this task. Our meetings might often be long and demanding but the different views on such a complex tasks make it even more interesting. The facilities here at LUMS make it very easy to set up for such efficient group meetings. We always booked fully-equipped meeting rooms through our iLancaster App and could meet in a quite environment with modern technology.

In Advanced Investment Management the whole class participates in a virtual fund-management-game. The 42 competing funds use modern investment theory to invest in assets that yield in highest profit (not forgetting the underlying risk) for their fund investors. Through this we can apply the learned theory to a real market environment. The fund that I manage with two friends did very well over the first periods but just got hit by a major recession. I’m excited for the investment rounds to come.

Happy new year to our readers out there!

Here at Lancaster our year does directly start with a big challenge: Four exams in four days. I’m glad we had some courses on time management and efficient learning techniques earlier this term, otherwise this workload would be difficult to handle.

During the first days of the new year all my fellow students from the Finance program arrived on campus again. As I am a person that best learns in a group, I use the days before the first exams to meet with other, discuss issues and calculate as many practice questions as possible. It is great that we have that many open study spaces available on campus, even with big groups we find a place to sit. Those learning sessions are long and exhausting but regular treats (chocolate, cookies and energy drinks) and the great company makes everybody quite happy.

Our exam week starts with a test in quantitative methods for finance, for me probably the most challenging exam. Luckily I don’t face any unexpected question and can end the exam in time – the good preparation pays off. After a quick lunch I directly continue to study for the next day, foundations of finance. The exam goes well again and so do the last two exams of this week, introduction to financial statement analysis and financial markets.

After this very stressful week I spend a weekend in Amsterdam with some fellow students, thanks to the nearby Manchester Airport a quick trip to do 🙂